UCLA Wins Second Consecutive NCAA Water Polo Championship

Goalkeeper Matt Swanson made 14 saves and Steve Covec scored two goals Sunday as UCLA defeated USC, 8-7, to win its second consecutive NCAA water polo championship.

Randy Wright scored a two-point goal and Jeremy Braxton-Brown, Jim Toring, Brian Bent and Matt Armato also scored for UCLA (24-6).

USC (23-3) entered the Final Four at UC San Diego ranked No. 1 and was favored to win its first NCAA title. USC has appeared in the Final Four nine times and made it to the championship match five times without winning.

Hrvoje Cizmic scored three goals for USC. Marko Zigar added two, and James Castle and Brennan Shum scored once each for the Trojans.

USC had a chance to tie the match in the final minute, but Cizmic missed a wide-open shot from point-blank range.

Swanson, a senior, was named Most Valuable Player in the Final Four.

UC Davis defeated Massachusetts, 11-8, in the third-place game.